Original Items: Only One Available. Called in German a Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber, this genuine badge is constructed of silvered die-struck zinc. Over time, the silvering can wear and flake off, showing the oxidized base metal, which is what has happened with this example. There is still some present on the front, and there is significantly more present on the reverse.

This exact badge was one of the many featured in the book The Infantry Assault Badges by Sascha Weber, published in 2008. We received it along with several other IAB's also featured in the book, which is the definitive work tracing the various makers and designs of the infantry assault badge.

The design of the badge consists of an oval oak wreath tied together at the base via a ribbon, with a national eagle clutching a mobile swas (hook cross), with a vertically oriented Karabiner 98k with the bayonet attached to the front of the barrel and the carrying sling hanging from the rifle superimposed on the wreath.

The back of the eagle is marked with an overlapping AS inside a triangle, the trademark logo of Adolf Scholze of Grünwald. The back also features a vertical pinback, with a functional pinched barrel hinge and catch. It measures approximately 48 mm (w) x 63 mm (h) with a weight of 35 grams. This example is overall in very good condition, with many areas still bright and shiny on the reverse.

Overall a great example of this type of badge, featured in a published research book, ready to display!

The Infantry Assault Badge (Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen) was a German war badge awarded to Waffen-SS and Wehrmacht Heer soldiers during the Second World War. This decoration was instituted on 20 December 1939 by the Commander-in-Chief of the German Army, Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch. It could be awarded to members of non-motorized Infantry units and units of the Gebirgsjäger that had participated in infantry assaults, with light infantry weapons, on at least three separate days of battle in the front line on or after 1 January 1940. When a counter offensive led to fighting, it could also apply. Award of the Infantry Assault Badge was authorized at regimental command level, and mechanized or motorized infantry were not eligible for the original badge. A bronze variant of the Infantry Assault Badge was created in June 1940, authorized for motorized and mechanized infantry units, using similar requirements for award as the original silver variant.